But very soon Talhah and az-Zubayr violated the peace treaty...

But very soon Talhah and az-Zubayr violated the peace treaty, and in raiding the governor's palace and treasury, they caused another battle which ended in the expulsion of 'Ali's governor from Basra and the death of his guards. But this was followed by a third clash, which we will describe below.

When Hakim ibn Jabalah learnt of the arrest and expulsion of 'Uthman and the death of the guards, he and three hundred men of his tribe prepared themselves for a fight and moved to towards 'A'ishah's army and so 'A'ishah mounted her camel to face the opponents with her army. A hard battle took place historians call the Small al-Jamal, while 'Ali's battle with them is called the Great al-Jamal.

During the combat a man of the al-Azd tribe attacked Hakim ibn Jabalah and with his sword cut off one of his legs. Hakim picked up his own severed leg and threw it violently at the man and knocked him down. Then he dragged himself towards the man and threw himself on him and suffocated him under his own heavy body. Hakim himself, too, was passing through his last moments of life when a man happening to pass by asked him who had brought down such a calamity upon him.

Hakim said: "This man who is acting as my cushion!" The passer-by looked down and noticed the corpse of the al-Azdi fellow under Hakim's half-dead body. Thus valiant Hakim met his death as a martyr in the way of right and truth. Abu Mikhnaf says: All of Hakim's followers who were three hundred in number were killed including his three brothers. So the third battle ended with the victory of 'A'ishah's army and Basra came under their complete control.

At this time all the fighters of Basra including those who had fought 'A'ishah's army surrendered and joined her army. Internal differences Talhah and az-Zubayr began to dispute over the question of acting as leader of the congregational prayer. Ibn Abi al-Hadid When 'Uthman ibn Hunayf was driven out of Basra and Hakim ibn Jabalah and his followers were killed, the city of Basra went completely under the control of Talhah and az-Zubayr.

Now, no more disputes could be expected, but as it happened, internal differences produced clashes. Each of these two commanders tried to act as leader of the congregational prayer, while the other one refused to stand behind his colleague to perform the prayer, since such a submission meant giving priority to the other.